When Mayor Mark Benigni and Representative Nancy Johnson accepted a check from EPA representatives Lynne Hamijian and Carlie Brandt, they didn’t just accept $200,000 for the city. They took on the responsibility of revitalizing Meriden’s environment.
The $200,000 check will add to $250,000 already granted by the EPA, in an effort to clean up a fourteen acre Hub site. The city has proposed a park in this area, and members of the EPA and city are optimistic about the future of the site. On the topic of the Hub areas, Hamijian said, “The revitalization of these areas is key to revitalizing the cities. By working together, we can really make a difference.”
This begins the first of two “reclaiming” projects by the city, in effort to help the land-poor city to clean up the mess created by past generations. The city also plans to demolish a former downtown mall and has received almost $2.3 million for this project from the state. Both should aide Meriden in solving its evident environmental problems and keeping the city clean.
CONNECTICUT
NSA Strikes Connecticut
According to reports in USA Today, the NSA has asked telephone companies to hand over calling patterns from states including Connecticut, from both landlines and cell phones. Companies such as AT&T, the leading landline operator in the state, and Verizon, have reportedly turned over consumer calling patterns to the state, in a move that could be a violation of privacy laws. Bellsouth was also reported to have turned over records, but does not operate in Connecticut.
Both companies refrained from commenting in response the article on whether or not they participated in the program. In a separate statement, Verizon said, “Verizon does not, and will not, provide any government agency unfettered access to our customers’ records or provide information to the government under circumstances that would allow a fishing expedition.”
Connecticut wireless carrier T-Mobile, by contrast, has explicitly denied any participation in the turning over of records. In its statement, T-Mobile said it has not participated “in any NSA program for warrantless surveillance and acquisition of call records.”
While some companies have openly resisted the NSA’s wishes, others have simply declined to comment. Wireless operators Sprint Nextel, Verizon, and Cingular evaded questions about the program, with Verizon even refusing to return calls about the topic.
Thus it is clear that the debate between protection and privacy will linger for a long time. Despite state support for the program, there obviously is much backlash for the NSA, which has led companies to hide from the public.
